Firefighters have worked through the night to battle a massive blaze that broke out at a historic church near Glasgow, prompting the evacuation of residents.
The fire erupted at St Mungo's Trinity Parish Church on St Mungo’s Road in Cumbernauld yesterday evening, August 3, with emergency services receiving the first report at around 7.37pm.
Dramatic images from the scene show flames tearing through the pyramidal roof of the B-listed local landmark, sending thick plumes of dark smoke across the surrounding area.
The church is located near a sheltered housing complex, and concern quickly mounted as the smoke spread over nearby homes and streets.
Several residents were evacuated as a precaution, while others were urged to stay indoors.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) confirmed that an initial response involving two fire engines was quickly escalated to seven appliances, with specialist resources deployed to tackle the blaze.
As of this morning, fire crews remain at the scene, continuing efforts to fully extinguish the fire.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Police and emergency services are at St Mungo's Church, St Mungo's Rd, [[Cumbernauld]].
"As a precaution, a number of premises in the street have been evacuated.
"Due to the volume of smoke, we'd advise nearby residents to stay indoors and to keep their windows and doors closed."
